It’s official – summer is here! I always feel this way when both Canada Day and Independence Day have arrived! So far it’s a season of being out and about ‘doing’ rather than sitting writing. I still plan to post as often as I can so please continue to stop by.May I lead you into the weekend with a super easy pancake recipe? Now I’m the first to admit that pancakes are not my specialty. I like to think it’s just that I don’t own the right pan. Whatever. These worked out really well for me….plus they’re gluten free, pretty healthy and much lighter and fluffier than I expected. Just like real pancakes!
Here are the ingredients for 3 large pancakes (6″):

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 ripe banana

2 eggs

1/4 cup applesauce

1/2 tsp vanilla

a sprinkle of cinnamon, to taste

Start by putting the oatmeal in your blender and whirling it for a few seconds to form flour. Then add all the other ingredients to the blender and whirl until well combined and smooth. Cook as you would normally cook pancakes – on a heated skillet or frypan. Turn when they start to bubble in the middle and look dry around the edges. Enjoy! I like mine with heated applesauce (instead of syrup), but I just can’t skip the butter. Healthy is good but a girl’s gotta have some fun too! Let me know if you try them!Happy Friday and all the best for a wonderful weekend. God bless America….and you!

Eureka! I finally found it. A gluten-free vegan cookie recipe that actually tastes good. Just when I was starting to lose hope and give myself over to the magic powers of butter, sugar and eggs!Cookies and coffee are my absolute favourite snack. I’ve been missing out while trying to stick to the 21 Day Fix eating plan. Don’t get me wrong, there are heaps of healthy recipes out there, but lots call for unusual ingredients that can cost a small fortune, or just end up flavourless. I’m so happy to have stumbled across this recipe and hope you’ll give it a try too.

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix the oats, oat flour, cinnamon baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In a larger bowl, combine peanut butter, melted coconut oil, honey, applesauce and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones and stir well. Add in the chocolate chips.
Drop by teaspoons onto lined cookie sheet. These don’t spread so give them a little press down if they’re a mound. Bake for 15 minutes. The cookies are a little soft when fresh out of the oven so let them cool on the pan before removing. Store in an airtight container. Makes 20.Now excuse me while I enjoy some guilt-free cookie goodness!

Well, I got my zen going on the side patio and am here to share. As hinted, I set up a little pond, complete with a pump, fountain, plants and fish. It’s a great addition to my garden area and the soft trickle of water is so relaxing.There are two things I need you to know up front: one is that this project is actually not new to me – I had a similar set up at my previous rental. Second, this is not as budget-friendly as most DIY’s I take on but already owning the pump, fountain and pot made it do-able.
If you want a mini pond or water feature of your own, here’s what you need (with approximate costs):

a plant pot with no drain hole, plastic is the cheapest and easiest ($10)

a small pump (found at a garden centre, WalMart, Canadian Tire etc) ($15)

a fountain or spitter (optional) ($25)

your choice of water plant(s) ($10)

fish, food and water conditioner ($6)

Start by giving your pot, fountain and pump a thorough cleaning with mild dish soap. Be sure to rinse well, especially if you plan to add fish.
Select your location and place the pot there. Choose carefully because once full, these are too heavy to move around! Fill your pot 3/4 full with cold tap water.
I lined the bottom of my pond with rocks, partly because I like the more natural look and partly because it gives fish a place to hide out.
Set up your pump according to package instructions, they’re easy, and submerge it in your pond. If using a fountain or spitter, connect the pump to it now.
Add your plant(s). I raised mine on an upside down planter just to give it more height.
Now, plug in your pump and make any adjustments you need to direction or flow of water. Safety first, use a 3 prong outlet with proper grounding. Top up the water level if needed. You now have a little pond!If you’re adding fish, please do so gradually and carefully. Water conditioner needs to be added at the start and about every month of so of having fish in your pond. I picked mine up at WalMart in the pet department for $2. You’ll normally bring fish home in a plastic bag filled with water. Place the entire bag, still closed into your pond and let it sit there for at least 1/2 an hour. This allows the fish time to get climatized to the new pond and gradually change to a different water temperature if needed. Next, open the bag and leave it in the pond. It may start to sink and the water from the pond and the bag will mix. That’s good. I left mine like this overnight and by the morning my fish had made their way from the bag to their new home in the pond. They seem pretty happy there ever since.I’ve had this simple little pond going for just over a week now and it’s a bit ridiculous how much fun I’m having with it! As soon as I get home from work I plug it in to get the water flowing, then I feed my fish. I see more and more of the fish as they’re feeling safer in their pond. I find myself spending more time on this patio too. Now I just need to teach the kitty that this isn’t a new watering hole for her!